Friday, January 06, 2012

Chickasaw Bluffs: an outline

I've been trying to put together my plans for Chickasaw Bluffs as part of my Enfilade projects. I'm thinking seriously about what I want the game to look like. It might be complicated but should be fun. So here it is in a nutshell.

The Layout

There are two 8' X 5' game tables separated by space to move between them. The left table is an all land table, at relatively equal elevation. The terrain will consist of an Indian village represented by four or five small buildings and a defensive stockade, plus a large cornfield. The rest of the terrain will be some medium sized hills and a fair number of trees.

Yes, it's crude, but I'm thinking the board will look something like this.

The right table is partly river, with a with an irregular shoreline roughly bisecting the table lengthwise. The shoreline rises quickly to an impassable height with a steep, but passable grade near the board edge. At the top of the hill is a Spanish battery defended by an earthwork. At the top of the table is a Spanish encampment.

The Forces

American Forces: The Americans will have a combination of regular and militia troops. There are six American units (half companies) of 12 figures each. In addition there are eight militia units (half companies) of 10 figures each. To support the foot forces will be at least one (perhaps two) mounted militia companies of ten figures each, and an artillery detachment two-three guns (there will be choices to make.) Last, but not least, the Americans will have a keelboat and four armed pirogues. The priogues can each carry a half company (one unit.) The keelboat can carry a complete company (two units)

Spanish Forces: The Spanish will also have a combination of regular and frontier militia (cuera) troops. There are two half companies of Spanish regulars, 10 figures each. The three militia half companies are also of ten figures each. One of the Cuera companies may also mount as lancers. Finally, the Spaniards will also have three artillery crews. They will be able to apply these to the three pounders in their camp, or the twelve-pounders in their earthwork.

Indian Forces: The Indians, Chickasaw warriors, will defend their homes with eight ten man units, all dismounted.

The Scenario

A combined army of American regulars and militia are making their way down the Mississippi to capture New Orleans. The Spanish are fortifying the west bank of the Mississippi and providing anchorages for river galleys in order to control Mississippi traffic. The Americans force is intended to capture the Spanish battery commanding the river from the bluffs.

The Spanish have paid the Chickasaw (and other tribes) to fight the Americans, who menace their homelands. The Chickasaw also provide some much needed to manpower to augment the small and dispersed Spanish Army in America.

Particulars

The American forces are divided between a force marching overland toward the Chickasaw village, and an amphibious force aimed at ascending the bluffs from the river . The Indians may begin in the cornfield or the stockade to defend their village. The Spanish begin in their encampment, ready to move, having been given the alarm by their Chickasaw allies.

Units can move freely between the two tables, being separated only by convenience. I'd be interested to hear, dear readers, what you think.

2 comments:

Perhaps I have missed whether the table represents the west or east bank of the river. The impassable shore and steep bank very much restricts the American landing zone and if the overland march is from the same direction, the game becomes just a narrow north/south battle of very little maneuver. Also important to check the move distances to ensure the game time is not spent only on a long march with no capacity to reach the wanted target for the player...well you did want feed-back didn't you ;-)

I think a good approach would be to elevate the impassable section by 2 or 3 inches and have a slope down to the passable section. For the other table, you can just keep it at normal table height. Since it is separated from the other table, no one will really notice.

About Me

I'm a high school history and journalism teacher, a career I've loved and continued to enjoy. Aside from my family I have several passions-miniature wargaming, movies, books and music. I'm also a died in the wool Mariners fan and baseball lover.